In the 59th minute of Saturday’s match, the greatest of all time made her NWSL debut. Marta took the pitch as a substitute for fellow Brazilian midfielder Monica, and her impact was immediate.
“Every time she touched the ball, the crowd went nuts,” Danica Evans said. “I think that brought a bit of extra energy to the team.”
The five time FIFA Player of the Year has only been in Orlando for roughly 48 hours, yet she made her presence known on the pitch against the Washington Spirit. Her best chance came in the first minute of stoppage time, when a shot from inside the box went just wide of goal.